2025/06/06
Ministry of National Defense Statement on the PLA’s Joint Combat Readiness Patrol
Time: 1900 hours, June 6, 2025
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (June 6) that, starting at 1545 hours, a total of 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft—including J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, various combat and support aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—were successively detected conducting operations in the vicinity of Taiwan. Of these, 15 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, entering the northern, central, and southwestern airspace of Taiwan in coordination with PLA naval vessels under the pretext of a so-called joint combat readiness patrol to harass Taiwan’s surrounding air and maritime domains. The Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces closely monitored the situation using integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and responded appropriately by dispatching mission aircraft and naval vessels, and deploying shore-based missile systems.
The MND emphasized that such actions are highly provocative, fail to respect the maritime rights of other nations, create regional instability and threats, and constitute a blatant disruption of the regional status quo.